Injector-recirculation pump

ABSTRACT

A reciprocating pump for delivering a metered amount of fluid per stroke to a desired destination while recirculating the balance of the fluid drawn into the pump to the container from which it is drawn, the pump being operated by a fairly constant, pressurized fluid source.

United States Patent [72] lnventor John H. Reed P.O. Box 321, Kermit,Tex. 79745 [21] Appl. No. 824,503

{22] Filed May 14, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [54]INJECTOR-RECIRCULATION PUMP 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 417/394, 417/521 [51] Int. Cl. F0411 43/10, F04b 45/00, F04b23/04 [50] Field of Search 103/2, 4, 152, 168; 230/162; 91/347; 417/394,395, 399, 401, 521

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,090,575 8/1937 De Motte91/347 2,622,372 12/1952 Moulden 91/347 2,658,485 11/1953 91/3472,943,765 7/1960 103/48 3,204,631 9/1965 103/150 3,314,594 4/1967103/150 3,320,859 5/1967 Poffenbarger. 91/347 3,492,946 2/1970 Martin103/4 3,524,714 8/1970 Grove et a1. 417/394 Primary Examiner-Carlton R.Croyle Assistant Examiner-John J. Vrablik Attorne Marcus L. BatesABSTRACT: A reciprocating pump for delivering a metered amount of fluidper stroke to a desired destination while recirculating the balance ofthe fluid drawn into the pump to the container from which it is drawn,the pump being operated by a fairly constant, pressurized fluid source.

Patented Aug. 3, 1971 3,597,120

2 Shoots-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. John H. Reed ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1971 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

John H. Reed ATTORNEY INJECTOR-RECIRCULATION PUMP This invention relatesto pumps, and more particularly to positive displacement pumps for usein providing metered amounts of liquid to a desired source by means of afluid pressure or a motor.

In the oil production industry it is often necessary periodically toprovide a metered amount of chemical or other fluid to an oil well at aremote or inaccessible location. In this case it is necessary to have apump which can be commenced to operate and left unattended for extendedperiods of time. At such locations a cheap source of power to operatethe pump is the high-pressure gas obtained from the oil and gasreservoir being tapped.

Usually, the chemical or other fluid being added to the oil well isprovided at the location in a large drum or other container. Unless thechemical is stirred or recirculated in some manner, it will settle outof the solution, coagulate, or otherwise become unacceptable when pumpedinto the well. Of course, if it is found that recirculation of thechemical or other fluid is unnecessary, such can be eliminated.

Accordingly, an object ofmy invention is to provide a pump for use inremote or inaccessible locations which will provide a metered amount ofchemical or other fluid to a desired loca tion utilizing gas pressurefound at the location.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a pump which isthrottled by the chemical being recirculated to pro vide a meteredamount of the chemical to the oil well.

Additional objects will be apparent from a study of the followingdisclosure and attached claims in conjunction with the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, in secton, of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a side, elevational view, in section, of a portion of myinvention (FIG. 1 having been rotated counterclockwise 90 FIG. 3 is aplan view, in section, ofa portion of my invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a enlarged view of the cam shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 4 is a side view, in section, of a portion of my invention shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of my invention when in use.

CONSTRUCTION Referring to FIG. 1, it is seen that my invention iscomprised of three basic structural, or housing, members, to wit: thelower casting 11, bellows casting 12, and regulator casting l3. Castings11 and 12 are secured by a plurality of bolts 31, and castings 12 and 13are secured by a plurality of bolts 34.

Bellows casting 12 has a cavity N within which is positioned a bellows20. (It has been found that a metal bellows withstands the corrosiveactions of oilfield gas better than rubber or other syntheticmaterials.) Bellows is secured to the lower internal portion of casting12 by welding at 29 or other means. The upper portion of bellows 20 issealed by connection to spring guide 21. The bellows is shown in itsfully expanded state in FIG. 1. When collapsed as much as possiblewithin casting 12, the bellows would be in such a position that theunderside of spring guide 21 will rest easily on the upper end 16aofpipe 16.

Casting 11 contains a passageway B having an inlet A. Check valve 17 isthreadily positioned in bellows 20 in such manner as to providecommunication between passageway B and the bellows cavity G throughpassageway F of the check valve. A gasket 28 is positioned betweencastings 11 and 12 to prevent fluid within the bellows or passageway Bfrom escaping to the atmosphere between castings l1 and 12. Check valve17 contains a seat 17a on which ball 18 can set to prevent fluid incavity G from escaping back into passageway B when bellows 20 is forceddownwardly. Also, check valve 17 contains retainer means 19 to preventball 18 from being forced out ofthe check valve.

A combination plug-check valve 14 is sealably secured in the undersideof casting 11 in such manner as to permit communication betweenpassageway B and pump chamber E (described more fully hereinafter)through passageway C. Ball 15 is contained within chamber E in suchmanner that it may rest on check valve seat 14a to prevent fluid fromflowing from chamber E into passageway C but not to prevent fluid fromflowing through passageway C into chamber E.

A pump cylinder 24 is positioned in cavity G and extends into casting 11where it is threadily connected to casting 11. O-ring 26 is positionedbetween cylinder 24 and casting 11 in such manner as to prevent fluidfrom escaping from chamber E outwardly to the atmosphere between casting11 and cylinder 24. Cylinder 24 extends upwardly into cavity G adistance just less than does pipe '16.

Spring guide 21 has a concave undersurface. Spring 23 is positionedaround cylinder 24 and abuts the lower interior surface of casting l2and the concave surface of spring guide 21 when bellows 22 is in itsmost extended position, as shown in FIG. 1.

Plunger 30 is secured at its upper end to the concave surface of springguide 21. The plunger extends downwardly into chamber E of cylinder 24.Cylinder 24 contains an O-ring 25 which will prevent fluid withinchamber E from escaping upwardly into cavity G when plunger 30 is forceddownwardly.

Connector 22 is secured to the upper surface of spring guide 21 and isrigidly secured to the lower end of valve rod 35 (more particularlydescribed hereinafter).

Pipe 16 extends downwardly from upper end 16a through the lower portionof casting 12 in such manner as to connect with passageway H containedin casting l1. Passageway H in turn connects with pipe 65. Gasket 27 ispositioned between castings I1 and 12 to prevent fluid from escapingfrom cavity G to the atmosphere between castings l1 and 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2 (depicting casting 11 when rotatedcounterclockwise) it is seen that passageway W connects with chamber Ethrough opening D. Check valve 69 is positioned in casting 11 and ismaintained therein by retainer nut 71 threadily connected to casting 11.Ball 70 is positioned within passageway Y in such manner as to seal offcommunication between passageways W and Y. Fluid can be forced frompassageway W into passageway Y but the reverse cannot be accomplishedbecause of ball 70.

Valve 68 is threadily connected into casting 11 in such manner as topermit fluid or air to be bled from passageway W to the atmosphere.

As shown in FIG. 1, gaskets 32 and 33 are positioned between castings l2and 13 to prevent the escape of fluids in cavity N or cavity S (casting13) into the atmosphere. Also, gaskets 32 and 33 form a seal forpassageway M contained in castings 12 and 13.

Cavity S is filled with oil for lubricating the moving parts therein,described hereinbelow. Plug 58 can be removed for adding this oil.

Casting 13 contains a pressure-supply cavity L which can communicatewith passageway M and which does at all times communicate with actuatorsupply inlet K. Passageway M communicates at all times with exhaustcavity Q. Cavity Q can communicate with outlet R which is open to theatmosphere. Cavity L and cavity Q contain valve seats 53 and 56,respectively, which are flxably secured within the cavities. These valveseats contain O-rings 54 and 56, respectively, in the positions shown.

Pressure-supply valve rod 48 extends into cavity L in such manner as topermit contact with O-ring 53 and to disrupt communication betweencavity L and passageway M. Rod 48 is positioned within cavity L by guide52, 52a which is secured within and to casting 13 in such manner as toprevent communication between cavity L and cavity S. O-ring 51 ispositioned within guide 52, 52a in such manner as to seal the interfacebetween guide 52 and rod 48. Of course, rod 48 extends into cavity S asshown.

ln exactly the same manner valve rod 46 extends into cavity in suchmanner as to permit it to abut O-ring 55 to prevent communicationbetween cavity Q and outlet R. Also, guide 50, 50a, containing O-ring49, is positioned within and secured to casting 13 to preventcommunication between cavity Q and cavity S. Both rods 48 and 46 areslidably contained in their guides.

Referring to FIG. 4, it is seen that inlet K can communicate withpassageway M and that passageway M can communicate through passageway Pwith cavity Q. FIG. 4 portrays a portion of casting 13 rotated 90clockwise.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, it is seen that when rods 48 and 46 are inthe positions shown with respect to O-rings 53 and 55, respectively,inlet K communicates with passageway M through cavity L, that passagewayM and Q communicate through passageway P, and that cavity Q and outlet Rare not in communication. However, as will be explained later, when rod48 abuts O-ring 54, rod 46 will be withdrawn from O-ring 55 to permitthe following communication between spaces: inlet K will stillcommunicate with cavity L, but cavity L will be sealed with respect topassageway M; and passageway M will communicate with outlet R throughpassageway P and cavity Q.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, valve rod 35, in the configuration shown,extends upwardly from connector 22 slidably through castings 12 and 13into cavity S. The interface of casting 13 and valve rod 35 is sealed byO-rings 35a. Upper stroke actuator 36 and lower stroke actuator 38 arereleasably secured to rod 35 as shown by setscrews 37. Two brackets 13acomprise a portion of the interior of casting 13 and extend into cavityS. A valve lever 40 is secured to each bracket 13a by pin 44 in suchmanner that levers 40 can rotate with respect to the brackets. A cam 43is positioned on pin 44 between levers 40 in such manner that it canrotate on pin 44 relative to levers 40. Cam 43 (FIG. 3A) contains aV-shaped slot through which pin 42 extends. Pin 42 is rigidly secured toeach of the levers 40.

A wheel 66, or other member wider than lever 40, is secured to eachlever 40 by pin 39. Levers 40 extend outwardly into cavity S beyond andon each side of rod 35 but are not secured to rod 35.

Springs 41 are secured at one end to pin 39 and at the other end to pins13c which are rigidly secured to brackets 13a.

Cam 43 is connected at each ofits ends to rods 46 and 48 by pins 45 and47, respectively, in such manner that cam 43 can rotate relative to therods.

Throttle-valve assembly 59 may be an integral part of casting 13 or itmay be manufactured separately and secured to casting 13 in the positionshown. Assembly 59 contains cavities I and T which are sealablyseparated by throttle-valve diaphragm 60. Pipe 65 connects with cavity 1and is secured to assembly 59 by adapter 67. Cavity E is open to theatmosphere through passageway V. Passageway J in assembly 59communicates with cavity I through valve seat 620. passagewaycommunicates with connection 62b which in turn will be connected tochemical return line 74 (FIG. leading into drum 75. Handle-diaphragmconnector 61 is secured to the upper surface of diaphragm 60. Handle 64is passed threadedly through the assembly 59 housing, extends downwardlyinto cavity T, and is secured to connector 61. Valve stem 62 is rigidlysecured to the underside of diaphragm 60, extends downwardly into cavityI and, when desired, extends into passageway J to prevent communicationbetween passageway .I and cavity I.

Spring 63 is positioned around the lower portion of handle 64 and abutsthe upper surface of connector 61 and the upper, interior surface of theassembly 59 housing. Handle 54 can be screwed into assembly 59 in suchmanner as to increase the force exerted by spring 63 on connector 61 andthe upper, interior surface of the assembly 59 housing.

Referring to FIG. 5, fluid can flow from tank, or barrel, 75 throughline 77, into the pump and out either through connection 71 to the oilwell or other desired point or through line 74 and back to tank 75.Also, high-pressure gas can flow through line 73, into the pump and outoutlet R.

OPERATION A description of the operation of my invention will becommenced assuming that the various components are in the positionsshown in FIG. 1. Cavity S is filled with oil for lubrication purposes;cavity G, passageway F, passageway B, passageway C, chamber E,passageway W, pipe 16, passageway H, pipe 65, cavity I, and passageway.I are filled with the chemical to be pumped; line 77 is in position tosupply chemical from drum 76 to inlet A; fitting 71 is connected tooutlet Y to provide chemical to the oil well; high-pressure gas line 73is connected to inlet K; and return line 74 is connected to fitting 62bto return excess chemical to drum 75.

Momentarily, before the configuration shown in FIG. 1 was reached, upperstroke actuator 36 pushed wheel 66 and hence, levers 40 upwardly pastdead center (horizontal) position, thus permitting spring 41 toinstantaneously close valve seat 56 and to open valve seat 53 by causingpin 42 to strike the upper V-shaped surface of cam 43 to rotate the camto the position shown.

Now, high-pressure gas enters through inlet K, cavity L, and passagewayM into cavity N to cause bellows 20 to commence to collapse.

As bellows 20 commences to collapse, piston 30 is forced downwardly intochamber E causing chemical to be forced through opening D intopassageway W and out passageway Y as ball is forced from its seat 69a.This chemical is forced on to the oil well or other desired location.

As bellows 20 continues to collapse, balls 14a and 18 are maintained ontheir valve seats 14a and 17a, respectively, thus preventing the flow ofchemical to passageway B. During this time chemical in cavity G is beingforced through pipe 16, passageway H, and pipe 65 into cavity I, fromwhere it is forced out through passageway J and returned to drum 74.

During this time spring guide 21 and connector 22 are being forceddownwardly, compressing spring 23 and pulling valve rod 35 downwardly,also.

As rod 35 continues to move downwardly lower stroke actuator 38eventually contacts wheels 66 and commences to force wheels 66 and rods40 downwardly. After rods 40 reach dead center (horizontal position)they are forced another increment downwardly and springs 41 pull levers40 to their lowest position instantaneously. At this time pin 42 hasstruck the lower V-shaped surface of cam 43, causing the cam to rotateinstantaneously to such position that rod 48 is forced against valveseat 53 to close the passageway between cavity L and passageway M. Also,at this time, valve rod 46 was withdrawn from valve seat 56 permittingcommunication between cavity Q and outlet R.

At the instant valve seats 53 and 56 were closed and opened,respectively, the high-pressure gas in cavity N commenced to beevacuated through passageways M and P, cavity Q and outlet R to theatmosphere, thus reducing the pressure within cavity N.

At this moment the high-pressure gas at inlet K cannot enter passagewayM because of valve seat 53 being closed by rod When the pressure withincavity N began to be reduced, spring 23 had sufficient compression toforce spring guide 21 and connector 22 upwardly, thus expanding bellows20.

As the bellows 20 expands more gas is forced from cavity N outwardlythrough passageway M as explained above. Also, during this timechemical, or other fluid, is drawn through opening A, passageways B andF, and check valve 17 into cavity G. Fluid is not permitted to return tocavity G through pipes 65 and 16 via passageway H because the pressurewithin cavity I is reduced sufficiently to permit spring 63 to forcediaphragm 60 downwardly, thus causing stem 62 to seal seat 620.

Spring 63 is positioned around the lower portion of handle 64 and abutsthe upper surface of connector 61 and the upper, interior surface ofassembly 59. Handle 54 can be screwed into assembly 59 in such manner asto increase the force exerted by spring 63 on connector 61 and theupper, interior surface of assembly 59. Thus, the compressive forceunder which spring 63 operates directly controls the rate at which thepump is actuated.

Referring to FIG. 5, fluid can flow from tank, or barrel, 75 throughline 77, into the pump and out either through connection 71 to the oilwell or other desired point or through line 74 and back to the tank 75.Also, high-pressure gas can flow through line 73 into the pump at inletK and out outlet R.

As bellows is expanding and piston is moving upwardly within cylinder24, chamber E enlarges and chemical is drawn through passageway C, pastball 15 (raised from its seat 140) and into chamber E. Fluid cannot bewithdrawn from passageway Y through passageway W because ball 70 isseated on its seat 690.

As connector 22 is moving upwardly rod likewise moves upwardly and upperactuator 36 eventually makes contact with wheels 66. As such upwardmovement continues, actuator 36 pushes wheels 66 and, hence, levers 40upwardly to their dead center positions. At the next instant, whenlevers 40 move upwardly another increment, springs 41 move levers 40 tothe position shown in FIG. 1 and another cycle is ready to commence.

In the event that recycle of chemical at 74 is found to be unnecessary,the life of the bellows can be prolonged by circulating lubricanttherethrough. This is best accomplished by connecting the outflowchamber J to the oil-filled chamber S by merely removing plug 58 andconnecting flow conduit 74 thereto; and by further providing the suctionside of the bellows at F with a flow conduit or passageway which extendsinto the lower extremity of chamber S. This expedient provides a closedloop flow circuit with the chamber S, check valve 18, bellows, andassembly 59 being series connected together into an isolated flowsystem.

The volume of fluid to be pumped on each stroke of the pump is regulatedby adjusting the positions of actuators 36 and 38 on valve rod 35. Asthe distance between actuators 36 and 38 is decreased, the stroke of thepump is shortened and less volume of fluid is transferred per stroke. Ofcourse, the opposite is true as the difference between actuators 36 and38 is increased.

From the foregoing it is seen that l have provided a pump for use inremote or inaccessible locations which will provide a metered amount ofchemical or other fluid to a desired location utilizing gas pressurefound at the location.

It is further seen that I have provided such a pump that willsimultaneously recirculate the chemical or other fluid not injected intothe oil well.

It is also seen that l have provided such a pump which is throttled bythe chemical being recirculated to provide a metered amount of thechemical to the oil well.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangements of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the attached claims.

I claim:

1. An injector-recirculation pump adapted to be flow connected to asource of power fluid and further adapted to be flow connected to asource of treatment chemical and to a wellhead so that chemical can beinjected into the wellhead and at the same time a portion of thechemical can be recirculated back to the source of chemical; said pumpcomprising:

a housing forming a chamber, a bellows, an over the center actuator, apower fluid valve means adapted to be moved from one to another flowcontrol position, a pump means having a cylinder and a piston with saidpiston being reciprocatingly received within said cylinder; flow conduitmeans connected to provide flow path to and from said pump means; checkvalve means within said flow conduit and located upstream and downstreamof said pump means;

said bellows being housed within said chamber; a flow conduit meansconnected to provide a flow path to and from the interior of saidbellows, a check valve means located upstream and downstream of saidbellows and within the last said conduit means for permitting flow tooccur in one direction through said bellows;

means connecting said over the center actuator to said power fluid valvemeans for connecting the power fluid to the housing when the power fluidvalve means is in said one position and for connecting the housing tothe atmosphere when the power fluid valve means is in said another flowcontrol position;

means connecting said piston to said bellows and to said over the centeractuator means so that said bellows, when contracted, reciprocates saidpiston to thereby force fluid within said cylinder to flow along a firstflow path while fluid contained within said bellows is forced to flowalong another flow path;

and means including a valve downstream of said bellows for controllingthe rate of response of said piston.

2. The pump set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylinder has alongitudinally extending marginal portion thereof axially disposedwithin said bellows, and said piston has a marginal portion thereofaxially disposed within said bellows;

said cylinder and said piston having diametrically opposed end portions,the last-recited end portions extending exteriorly of said bellows.

3. The pump set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow conduit which permitsflow from said bellows is in the form of a standpipe and has a terminalend portion which is disposed within said bellows,

said bellows having a fixed end portion and a free end portion;

a member on said free end portion of said bellows adapted to engage theend of said standpipe when the bellows is in a contracted configuration.

4. The pump set forth in claim 1 wherein said bellows has a free endportion and a fixed end portion, means by which said fixed end portionis attached to said housing; said piston having one free end thereofaffixed to said free end of said bellows; said free end of said bellowshaving a lever depending therefrom and through said housing; seal meansbetween said housing and said lever for slidably engaging said lever;

said lever being connected to said over the center actuator;

and biasing means for biasing said free end of said bellows away fromsaid fixed end of said bellows.

1. An injector-recirculation pump adapted to be flow connected to asource of power fluid and further adapted to be flow connected to asource of treatment chemical and to a wellhead so that chemical can beinjected into the wellhead and at the same time a portion of thechemical can be recirculated back to the source of chemical; said pumpcomprising: a housing forming a chamber, a bellows, an over the centeractuator, a power fluid valve means adapted to be moved from one toanother flow control position, a pump means having a cylinder and apiston with said piston being reciprocatingly received within saidcylinder; flow conduit means connected to provide flow path to and fromsaid pump means; check valve means within said flow conduit and locatedupstream and downstream of said pump means; said bellows being housedwithin said chamber; a flow conduit means connected to provide a flowpath to and from the interior of said bellows, a check valve meanslocated upstream and downstream of said bellows and within the last saidconduit means for permitting flow to occur in one direction through saidbellows; means connecting said over the center actuator to said powerfluid valve means for connecting the power fluid to the housing when thepower fluid valve means is in said one position and for connecting thehousing to the atmosphere when the power fluid valve means is in saidanother flow control position; means connecting said piston to saidbellows and to said over the center actuator means so that said bellows,when contracted, reciprocates said piston to thereby force fluid withinsaid cylinder to flow along a first flow path while fluid containedwithin said bellows is forced to flow along another flow path; and meansincluding a valve downstream of said bellows for controlling the rate ofresponse of said piston.
 2. The pump set forth in claim 1, wherein saidcylinder has a longitudinally extending marginal portion thereof axiallydisposed within said bellows, and said piston has a marginal portionthereof axially disposed within said bellows; said cylinder and saidpiston having diametrically opposed end portions, the last-recited endportions extending exteriorly of said bellows.
 3. The pump set forth inclaim 1 wherein said flow conduit which permits flow from said bellowsis in the form of a standpipe and has a terminal end portion which isdisposed within said bellows, said bellows having a fixed end portionand a free end portion; a member on said free end portion of saidbellows adapted to engage the end of said standpipe when the bellows isin a contracted configuration.
 4. The pump set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid bellows has a free end portion and a fixed end portion, means bywhich said fixed end portion is attached to said housing; said pistonhaving one free end thereof affixed to said free end of said bellows;said free end of said bellows having a lever depending therefrom andthrough said housing; seal means between said housing and said lever forslidably engaging said lever; said lever being connected to said overthe center actuator; and biasing means for biasing said free end of saidbellows away from said fixed end of said bellows.